Growing Hope

She manages a 400-acre therapeutic farm, yet Tracy’s biggest challenge is within.

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Length22:00

GenreDocumentary

Pitch video

Synopsis

Tracy Parow is the executive director of Providence Farm, a therapeutic farm community for people living with diverse mental abilities, age-related illnesses, brain injuries and developmental challenges. Through her work, Tracy has become acutely aware of how diverse mental health diagnoses can be, but nothing could prepare her for experiencing one first-hand. In 2018, Tracy experienced a violent and traumatic incident that left her with acute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Now, with the help of a diverse care team, Tracy must cope with her own PTSD while preparing Providence Farm for a second wave of COVID-19 with half the usual staff. Every day is a new struggle, but the community is resilient, and hope grows right alongside the garlic, squash and apples.

Interview Roster

Tracy Parow

The main thread of the documentary will follow Tracy's story in her own words, as she confronts her recent trauma, the long road to recovery, her profound impact on Providence Farm and vice-versa.

Providence Volunteers

The dozens of volunteers at Providence are the backbone of the farm. From agriculture mentorship to facilities maintenance to administrative tasks, the volunteers of Providence are as much a part of the community as the staff and participants. Their dedication is inspired by the tranquility and authenticity of Providence Farm, and the unique personalities who work and play there.

Providence Staff

The dedicated staff who work with Tracy have indelible insights and captivating stories that reflect on her work and her personal journey, as well as the stories of Providence participants, and the challenges that the community faces in light of COVID-19.

Providence Participants

Participants in Providence Farm programs partake in everything from planting and harvesting in the gardens to cooking and creating in the kitchen. Many of them have been part of the Providence scene for many years, and know Tracy and her team as well as they know each other. They, too, are unsung heroes in the story of this unique therapeutic community.

Care Team

Tracy's care team comprises of several medical specialists, focused on providing occupational therapy and improving opportunities for recovery at her work and beyond. They play a key role in her recovery story, and have valuable perspectives on the nature of work in the field of mental health.

Production Design

Through creative use of time-lapse and macro photography, we want to use the evolution of the Providence gardens to reflect on the process of emotional and physical healing and reframing.

Like the changing seasons, certain events will challenge even the strongest gardens. While Growing Hope is a story of optimism and resilience, we also want to tackle the stark reality of chronic mental health issues, and the possible ripple effects on communities large and small. Growing Hope will show Providence Farm in all its seasons, and celebrate the emergence of new growth as the community and its members tackle their own trauma, the restrictions of COVID-19, and the resulting isolation that challenges its very purpose.

While the lives of the Providence community are not simple, the space itself is honest and uncomplicated. In contrast to the dramatic stories we want to share, we want to also demonstrate an appreciation for the simple, everyday activities and gestures that reflect the farm's philosophy of therapy through nature and community.

Providence farm is peaceful, but there's a breathless lyricism to the activities that constantly keep things ticking. We want to capture the bustle and emotion of the Providence story through the constant movement of dynamic handheld shots, captured in slow-motion.